Reappraisal of the Therapies of Refractory Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Reappraisal of Second-line Therapies of Refractory Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

There is a deficiency in guidelines about the treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially in refractory cases. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) showed promising results in those patients but still, the data available are in form of case reports. So, investigators will investigate the efficiency of MMF against a well-established treatment Rituximab in the treatment of refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia in SLE patients.

There is a deficiency in guidelines about the treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially in refractory cases. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) showed promising results in those patients but still, the data available are in form of case reports. So, the investigators will investigate the efficiency of MMF against a well-established treatment Rituximab in the treatment of refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia in SLE patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of erythematosus (SLE) according to The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) guidelines.
• secondary autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) that does not respond properly to corticosteroid or when the patients are intolerant to treatment, or refuse standard treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• any contraindication of the used drugs.
• any known hypersensitivity of the used drugs.
• congenital hemolytic anemia.
• chronic renal failure.